Mashed potatoes

Potatismos

Potatismos (mashed potato) is more popular in Sweden than in the UK, so naturally Swedes normally make very good mos! John Duxbury

Summary

Tips

• Use a potato ricer to press the potatoes if possible as it makes a much smoother mash. If you haven’t got a potato ricer, for special occasions it is worth mashing the potatoes until smooth and then using the back of a spoon to press the mashed potato through a fine sieve into a bowl.• Always heat the milk in a separate pan (or in a jug in a microwave) and add it in stages to the mash until you get a consistency that is right to match the main dish.• For a really creamy mash replace some of the milk with whipping cream.• Don’t leave making mash to the last minute as it is easy to keep warm or reheat. Unfortunately, mash is sometimes spoilt because it has been rushed and so it isn’t smooth enough, cold milk has been added or the seasoning hasn’t been checked!

Ingredients

1 kg

(2¼ lb)

potatoes suitable for mashing

lightly salted water

300 ml

(1¼ cups)

milk

30 g

(2 tbsp)

butter, softened

1 tsp

salt

freshly ground white pepper

freshly grated nutmeg, optional

Method

1. Peel the potatoes and add them to a saucepan of lightly salted water.

2. Bring the potatoes to the boil and simmer with a lid on for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.

3. When the potatoes are nearly ready, add the milk to a separate saucepan and heat to simmering point.

4. When the potatoes are really soft, drain them using a colander and then place them back in the pan. Shake the pan over a gentle heat for a minute or so to get rid of any remaining water.

5. Transfer the potatoes back to the colander and then push them through a ricer back into the pan again.

6. Using a fork, metal spoon or an electric whisk, gradually whisk in the milk and butter until you have the right consistency for your dish. (You might not need all the milk.) Don’t overbeat the potatoes or they will end up a bit gluey.

7. Season generously with salt, a little white pepper and some grated nutmeg (optional). Taste and adjust the seasoning.

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